The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-18

swordsman, a. be Is. His forehead Ia high
and broad, and white; his dark brown
beard only slightly touched with silver,
does not conceal the strong mouth and jaw
The eyes are sharp and piercing, and when
he Is amused there is something very bright
and winning In the smile that lights up the
face, which, in repose, il very set If not
really stern.
The order Of Foresters is secret bepevo-
lent society, and is composed principally Of
higher-class mechanics and small shop
keepers. The men who sat around me
were full OF q rough, but well.meant cour-
tesy and hospitality, albeit that my nation
ality was quickly discovered, and there
was some carefully concealed curiosity to
know what brought me there. The dinner
was plain, but good and well cooked, and
each man drank what he liked to order up
from the bar below, which was principally
tanksrds Of bitter ale. observed that Sir
Charles was drinking champagne, and
asked mine host what wine he kept. "Oh
1 keep Moet and Chandon regularly, but,
that's Sir Charles's favourite wine, 'Roeder-
err" so ordered bottle, and very nice 1t
was. Well, when the churchwsrden pipes
and cigars were brought in q great many
| OF the former and few of the latter, the
speech making began, and Sir Charles was
very happy in his remarks. I am not 60
ing to report his speech, which only touch
ed casually on politics, and dwelt much on
matters local to Chelsea and pertaining to
the welfare Of the Order OF Foresters, but
it was happily conceived and delivered with
a smoothness and grace OF orstory, more
like an Americans speech than the halting,
hemming, suffering, drawling utterances
of the average Englishman, when he at
tempts talking on his legs.
gathered from my neighbor's chat, as
well as from the enthusiasm with which he
was greeted, that Dixie is very popular in
Chelsea. He Is living quietly there. and
mixing with the masses Just as he was fra
| ternising with them that evening. He
| studies their views, observes their needs,
and his hand is always in his pocket to
give to the deserving who need bis aid.
Lady Dixie Is aiding him very much in his
work Of intrenchiDg himself with the peo-
pie, and goes about personally and quietly,
visiting the sick and poor, and unostenta-
tiously relieving their wants. Charles has
adopted almost extreme Radical views, and
is not only practising them, but he has as
sumed virtually the editorial control OF the
Afhenaeon, Of which he has long been pro-
prletor, inheriting 1t from his father, and is
ventilating bis views forcibly therein. That
he will be returned to Parliament from
Chelsea at the first opportunity have not
the slightest doubt, and that when he gets
once more into harness he will make things
exceedingly lively and interesting I am
equally certain. He sent waiter to ask
me to take wine with him, and was short
ly after introduced to him, and had few
moments pleasant chat, in which he al}ud
ed to his admiration for America AMI
Americans, and came away convinced
that his words in concluding his protest
against the verdict in the Crawford case,
II will rise agaiu!" were no empty boast
1t is curious commentary on English jour-
nalism that not one OF the papers has TAX
en- the little trouble necessary to CLEAN the
foregoing facts in regard to the man with
whose name and trials the whole civilised
world is familiar.
The American Exh hibition is now on the
home stretch. Mr.. John r. Whitley is de-
voting his time TO personally pushing on
the work Of completing the buildings, and
these are in a sufficiently forward state to
dispel any lingering doubts in the minds of
the most sceptical as to their being ready
in time for the opening. To the slow-going
Englishman It seems little short of a sort
OF Aladdin's Palace building operation. As
the neighbours at Earls Court and West
Brompton get up In the morning, they rub
their eyes and pinch themselves to see If
they areireally awake, so rapidly does the
work progress from day to day. Only
month ago and they would not believe it
could be finished, and now they are full of
wonder and admiration at this exhibition
of Yankee push and energy.
| In view of the fact that q fine case of
crystal models Of all the large diamonds in
the world will be displayed at the Ameri-
can Exhibition, the following details In re-
gard to some OF them will prove interest
ing
"a celebrated jewel has been known for
some three centuries, though Eastern sages
give it history of three thousand years.
Its primitive weight was 900 carats, but q
bungling Venetian diamond cutter reduced
it to 280, and made wretched affair of it.
On the 18th July, 1862, the Duke of We'll
lington witnessed the commencement OF
the recruiting, which operation lasted 3S
days, and cost ESQ 90. Her Majesty has
seldom worn the Koh-i-noor, and then only
on very special occasions; its great size Is
we'll shown In those portraits Of the Queen
dressed as at the Duke of Albauy's mar
risge; her necklace and earrings are CON-
posed Of unusually large diamonds, but
they are Insignificant In comparison with
the splendid single-stone brooch.
"Among the most famous diamonds now
in Europe is the Orloff, or Moon OF The
Mountain, 1893 carats, once owned by a
Great Mogul, then by a Shah OF Persia,
now by the Cor of Russia. This stone is
Of the finest water, and its size that OF
pigeons egg; the shape, however, is not
perfect The Grand Tuscan is next 10 or
der of weight 1894 carats, and belongs to
the Emperor OF Austria. 1t is cut as rose
diamond, and is irather lessened in value
through being of yellow tint. The most
perfect diamond is the Regent, its original
weight was 4i0 csrsts, but afrer being cut
as brilliant, it was reduced to 1877.
"The Star Of the South is the largest dia-
mond yet obtained from Brazil, and ranks
as one of the most important stones in the
Crown jewels of Portugal; 1t once weigh
ed 254 carsts, but was trimmed down to
1876. This lustrous wonder was discovered
by three banished miners, who were seek
ing for gold during their exile. Great
drought laid bare the bed Of river, and
there they found the Star, which obtained
them remission Of their sentence. The
Spanish Royalties have nothing extraordi-